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Latin America’s greatest democracies are making an enormous mistake in failing to denounce, with out ambiguity, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and in not imposing even symbolic sanctions on dictator Vladimir Putin.
They not solely are on the unsuitable aspect of historical past, they’re additionally on the unsuitable aspect of their very own financial pursuits.
The leaders of Brazil, Mexico and Argentina have refused to affix the democratic world’s financial sanctions towards Putin; they haven’t suspended navy, cultural and sports activities agreements with Russia to protest its unjustified invasion of Ukraine. In some circumstances, they’re even permitting teams inside their very own ruling events to help Russia publicly.
On March 23, about half a dozen legislators from Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s leftist Morena celebration, alongside congressmen from different events, created a “Mexico-Russia Friendship Committee” on the Mexican Congress.
Russian ambassador Viktor Koronelli was the honored visitor on the ceremony, the place he praised López Obrador’s self-proclaimed neutrality on the battle. Koronelli celebrated that, “Mexico won’t ever be part of anti-Russian sanctions,” and that “internationally, there are nations like China, like India, like Mexico, that may by no means say “Sure, Sir” to Uncle Sam’s orders.”
That very same day, López Obrador stated in his day by day press briefing, that, “Our posture is neutrality.”
It’s pathetic that Latin America’s Jurassic left claims to be “anti-imperialist” and a champion of “nationwide sovereignty,” whereas on the similar time siding with or ignoring Russia’s full-scale navy invasion of a sovereign nation whose president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was freely and pretty elected with 73% of the vote.
On the inaugural ceremony of the Mexico-Russia Friendship Committee, the Russian ambassador bought the privilege of a podium to unfold Russia’s blatant lies.
Putin lied when he stated solely weeks in the past that he was not going to invade Ukraine and that such claims have been a part of a U.S. disinformation marketing campaign. He lied when he stated that Ukraine is dominated by Nazis. Ukraine’s president, in reality, is Jewish. Now, he’s mendacity when he says that the Russian navy shouldn’t be bombing civilian buildings, faculties and hospitals in Ukraine.
It’s exhausting to think about that Mexico’s ruling celebration would have allowed the creation of this friendship group with out López Obrador’s blessing.
The presidents of Brazil and Argentina visited Putin on the Kremlin this 12 months and appeared, smiling, in footage with the Russian dictator.
To be honest, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina have voted twice in current weeks, alongside different world democracies on the United Nations Basic Meeting, for resolutions to “deplore” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However their presidents proceed to ship ambivalent messages about Russia’s aggression.
Latin American democracies ought to on the very least take symbolic measures towards Putin, together with suspending cultural and sports activities occasions. That might not solely be the best factor to do, but additionally would serve their nation’s pursuits.
The brand new world order within the post-Ukraine struggle period can be one in every of two clearly outlined blocs of countries: One which sides with democracy and respect for nations’ proper to decide on their very own future; and the opposite that sides with Russia and Soviet-era imperialism.
And the primary bloc can be, a minimum of within the close to future, the one that’s economically strongest.
The newly strengthened alliance of the USA, Britain, the 27 European Union members, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Australia, amongst others, collectively accounts for 59% of the world’s financial system, in line with a March 18 report in The Wall Avenue Journal, based mostly on Worldwide Financial Fund knowledge.
Russia, by comparability, quantities to about 3% of the world’s GDP, and its allies are among the world’s poorest nations, reminiscent of Nicaragua and Venezuela. Even when China have been to change into a full-fledged ally of Putin, which is uncertain contemplating China’s heavy dependence on Western commerce, an alliance of China, Russia and their allies would solely account for about 25% of the world’s financial system.
The U.S.-Europe-Japan democratic bloc has discovered a lesson from Russia’s invasion and can be more and more cautious of relying on commerce with politically unreliable nations.
We’re shifting, a minimum of for the foreseeable future, right into a world of “pleasant” commerce blocs. And Latin America’s greatest democracies are risking being left on the margins — or out of the most important bloc.
Don’t miss the “Oppenheimer Presenta” TV present on Sundays at 7 pm E.T. on CNN en Español. Twitter: @oppenheimera
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